Storm-proof loch statue blown away by winds

A HALF-TON “storm-proof” statue disappeared in the storm that battered Scotland last week.

‘Still’ – a statue of a mirrored figure standing in a Perthshire loch – has attracted hundreds of visitors.

But the 10ft high art installation in Loch Earn is missing following the storm, which also destroyed the jetty leading out to it.

The statue as it stood before the storm

The statue was installed by the nearby Four Seasons Hotel in May last year.

It consists of hundreds of tiny mirrors and was specially designed to allow wind and water to flow through it to minimise any potential damage.

The statue was created by Glasgow-based sculptor Rob Mulholland, who says that its disappearance is just “one of those things”.

The high water levels toppled the statue and destroyed the jetty

He said: “I got an email this morning from the manager of the hotel to tell me that the statue had disappeared, so I’m hoping to head up tomorrow to have a nosey and see what’s happened.

“I think it will have just fallen over – it was built on a floating base because it had less impact on the environment than the more permanent concrete blocks.

“It would have had the full force of the wind blowing down the seven-mile long Loch, and combined with the high water level it would have just toppled.

The statue was designed to reflect water and light

“When it was installed the water level was about 2ft deep, and during the storm it got to about 6ft.

“It’s a bit of a blow but I can guarantee we’ll have it back up standing in no time. However, we might have to look into maybe moving it closer to shore or adding in the concrete blocks to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

He added that he will have to enlist the help of a “couple of big lads from the fire service” when re-erecting the heavy statue.

The statue attracted hundreds of visitors

Mary McDiarmid, manager of the Four Seasons hotel, said that they “hoped he had just fallen over”.

She said: “It was a bit of a shock when we realised that the mirror man had disappeared and half of the jetty had blown away.

“The water level was very high during the storm, and even though the statue was built to allow wind and water to flow through it, I think this time it was just too much.

Rob Mulholland designed the statue

“It was like the North Sea up here – ridiculously strong winds and heavy rain.”

The statue was installed after four similar artworks on loan to the hotel proved popular with visitors.

The mirrored form is designed to appear as if it is continually changing, reflecting the light, rippling water, rocks on the beach and the ever-changing Scottish weather.